2023-2024 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE IMPORTANT DATES

2023-2024 NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE IMPORTANT DATES
– DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE –
July 17
Mid-July
Mid-July
July 24
July 24
August 3
August 8
August 10-13
August 17-21
August 24-27
August 29
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At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign
such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a oneyear contract with his prior club for the 2023 season, and such contract cannot be extended until
after the club’s last regular season game.
Clubs are permitted to open preseason training camp for rookies (defined as a player who has
never signed a player contract with an NFL club in a prior League Year) beginning seven days
prior to the club’s earliest permissible mandatory reporting date for veteran players. A club’s
preseason training camp will be deemed to have officially opened on the designated reporting
date for all rookies.
Clubs may require first-year players (defined as a player who signed a player contract with any
NFL club in a prior League Year, but who does not have a pension-credited season) to report on
the designated reporting date for all rookies, or at any time thereafter, including, but not limited
to, the designated reporting date for veteran quarterbacks and injured players, or the designated
reporting date for all other veteran players.
Veteran quarterbacks and “injured players” (as defined in CBA Article 21, Section 6) may be
required to report to the club’s preseason training camp no earlier than five days immediately
prior to the mandatory reporting date for all other veteran players, provided the club has already
opened (or simultaneously opens) its official preseason training camp for all rookies.

Beginning on the date that the first training camp opens for rookies through the last business day prior to the Super Bowl, all tryouts and visits will be reported to clubs on the Personnel Notice.
At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Transition Players with outstanding
tenders. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, prior club has exclusive negotiating rights.
At 4:00 p.m., New York time, on July 24 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp [July 19 in 2023], whichever is later) signing Period ends for Unrestricted Free Agents to whom a “UFA Tender” was made by Prior Club. After this date and until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, Prior Club has exclusive negotiating rights.
Hall of Fame Game, New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns, Canton, Ohio.
If a drafted rookie has not signed with his club by this date, he cannot be traded to any other
club in 2023 and may sign a player contract only with the drafting club until the day of the Draft
in the 2024 League Year.
First Preseason Weekend.
Second Preseason Weekend.
Third Preseason Weekend.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the
Active/Inactive List.
August 30
September 3
September 4-9
September 7, 10-11
September 29,
October 2-3
October 1
October 8
October 15
October 17-18
October 31
November 1

Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 53 players, clubs that have players in the categories
of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of
the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the
designation of Failed Physical or Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request
waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active List.
Players who are on the Reserve List or Exempt List and are not counting against the 90-player
limit will begin to count against the 90-player limit.
Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at 12:00
noon, New York time.
Upon receipt of the subsequent Personnel Notice, clubs may establish a Practice Squad of 16
players. Clubs participating in the International Player Development Program may sign one
additional international player to a practice player contract. No club, including the player’s prior
club, will be permitted to sign a player to a practice player contract until all clubs have received
simultaneous notification via the above Personnel Notice that such player’s prior NFL player
contract has been terminated via the waiver system.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, any player placed on Reserve/Injured, Reserve/NonFootball Injury or Illness, or Practice Squad; Injured during the regular season or postseason,
may be designated for return later in the season, subject to the applicable procedures.
Final day of preseason training camp for all clubs, as defined in CBA Article 23, Section 10.
In accordance with the Personnel (Injury) Report Policy, each club is required to file a Practice
Report with the NFL Communications department by 4:00 p.m., New York time, (or as soon as
possible after the completion of practice) every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for a regular
season Monday game; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for a Thursday game; Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday for a Friday game; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for a
Saturday game; and Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a Sunday game.
Each club must also file a weekly regular season Game Status Report with the NFL
Communications department by 4:00 p.m., New York time (or as soon as possible after the
completion of practice) on Wednesday for a Thursday game, Thursday for a Friday or Saturday
game, Friday for a Sunday game, and Saturday for a Monday game. An update must be
reported if there is any change in a player’s condition after the initial Game Status Report is
filed.
Kickoff Weekend.
Beginning on the day after a club’s fourth regular season game (including any bye week), it is
permitted to begin practicing players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and
Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness (if the player failed his preseason physical due to a nonfootball injury or illness) for a period not to exceed 21 days. Players may be activated during the
21-day practice period, or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the day after the conclusion of
the 21-day period.
NFL International Game at Wembley Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London, United Kingdom)
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans
Fall League Meeting, New York, New York.
All trading ends for 2023 at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons are subject to the waiver system
for the remainder of the regular season and postseason.
November 5
November 12
November 14
November 14
November 14
November 14
December 12-13
January 6-7
January 8
January 8
January 8
January 10
January 13-15
January 15
January 20-21
January 28
February 4
February 11
February 20
February 27-March 4
March 5
March 11-13
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NFL International Game at Frankfurt Stadium (Frankfurt, Germany)
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs
NFL International Game at Frankfurt Stadium (Frankfurt, Germany)
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots
At 4:00 p.m., New York time, signing period ends for Franchise Players who are eligible to
receive offer sheets.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unsigned Franchise and
Transition Players, including Franchise Players who were eligible to receive offer sheets until
this date. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited from playing in NFL in
2023.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to sign their unrestricted free agents to
whom the “UFA Tender” was made. If still unsigned after this date, such players are prohibited
from playing in NFL in 2023.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for Clubs to sign their restricted free agents,
including those to whom the “June 1 Tender” was made. If such players remain unsigned after
this date, they are prohibited from playing in NFL in 2023.
Special League Meeting/Front Office Accelerator, Irving, Texas.
2024
Week 18.
Clubs may begin signing free agent players for the 2024 season.
Earliest permissible date for clubs to renegotiate or extend the rookie contract of a drafted
rookie who was selected in any round of the 2021 NFL Draft or any undrafted rookie who signed
in 2022. Any permissible renegotiated or extended player contract will not be considered a
rookie contract, and will not be subject to the rules that limit rookie contracts.
Clubs may exercise fifth-year options for players selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL
Draft.
Beginning at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on the Wednesday following the final regular season
weekend, rosters are frozen for clubs participating in the postseason with limited exceptions.
Wild Card Playoff Games.
Special Eligibility Deadline. Deadline for college players who are underclassmen to apply for
Special Eligibility. A list of underclassmen who have been approved for entry into the 2024 NFL
Draft will be sent to clubs on January 19.
Divisional Playoff Games.
AFC and NFC Championship Games.
Pro Bowl Games.
Super Bowl LVIII, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Beginning this date through 4:00 p.m., New York time on March 5, clubs may designate
Franchise or Transition Players.
NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition
Players.
During the period beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, on March 11 and ending at 3:59:59
p.m., New York time, on March 13, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract
March 13
March 24-27
April 1
April 15
April 17
April 19
April 24
April 24
April 25-27
May 2
May 3-6 or
May 10-13
May 13
May 20-22
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negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon
the expiration of their 2023 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 13.

During the above two-day negotiating period, a prospective UFA who is not represented by an
NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor (“Unrepresented Player”) is permitted to communicate directly
with a new club’s front office officials (excluding the head coach and other members of the
club’s coaching staff) regarding contract negotiations. The club is responsible for confirming the
player’s status as an Unrepresented Player.
No prospective unrestricted free agent is permitted to execute a contract with a new club until
4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 13.
The 2024 League Year and Free Agency signing period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
Trading period for 2024 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2023
contracts.
The first day of the 2024 League Year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 13.
Clubs will receive a Personnel Notice that will include all transactions submitted to the League
office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time,
on March 13.
Annual League Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2023 regular season may begin
offseason workout programs.
Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with a drafteligible player at its club facility.
Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents who signed
offer sheets.
Deadline for clubs to time, test, visit, interview (including video and phone calls) or conduct a
physical examination with a draft-eligible player at any location.
NFL Draft, Detroit, Michigan.
Deadline for Clubs to exercise Fifth-Year Option for players selected in the first round of the
2021 Draft.
Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through
Sunday or Saturday through Monday on one of the two weekends following the Draft.
Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
Spring League Meeting/Coach Accelerator, Nashville, Tennessee.

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Author: David Keech

David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]